San Francisco, Calif., September 6, 2001 - The Mercury Cycling Team is proud to announce the addition of three new riders who will serve as stagiaires for the remainder of the 2002 racing season. A "stagiaire" in professional cycling is an amateur rider claiming a contract for the following year, but before he gets it or not, he's welcome in a team for a trial period between September 1st until the end of the season (late October). The three new riders to the "green wave" are Ernesto Lechuga, Svein Tuft & Matt Wilson. These three riders joined some of the current professionals on the Mercury Cycling Team last weekend at the GP Ouest-France in Plouay and the Tour of Finistere. The three are also on the start line for the Tour de l'Avenir, the "little brother" of the Tour de France, reserved for Under 26 cyclists.

SVEIN TUFT was born in White Rock (Canada), May 9, 1977 and he still lives in British Columbia. "I started racing two years ago, he said. Before, I had been touring, traveling by bike, and working in a bike shop. That's where I realized how fast the road bikes were. My dad said: "You should try racing". I cracked in the first couple of races and I experienced that you can't always go from the gun and win. Last year, I went with Gord (Fraser, Mercury's legendary captain) for a 190 kilometers break before we got caught, that's where the Canadian national team saw me and invited me to ride the 2000 Tour de l'Avenir, where I learnt more about cycling in ten days than in all the other months I've spent on my bike. I virtually knew nothing about the sport one year ago. This year, I came 14th in the time trial in Le Tour de Langkawi in Malaysia, I won the bronze medal in the Pan-Am Games, also for time trial, and I came 2nd in the Canadian national championship, again for time trial, Eric Wohlberg beat me. I like time trials... and breakaways."

2001 Univest Grand Prix

SOUDERTON, PA (September 6th, 2001)- The final selections for the 2001 Univest Grand Prix bicycle race were announced today, and, while the foreign contingent is stronger than ever, this might be the year that a U.S. rider finally wins the epic 105-mile Elite Men's road race.

"This year's group of domestic entries is by far the best we've ever had here", enthuses race promoter John Eustice of Sparta Cycling. "It's a virtual who's-who of U.S. amateur racing!" Among the teams headed to Souderton are the top three amateur teams in the country:

However, even these elite riders are sure to have their hands full, as the six foreign teams headed to the Univest Grand Prix are the strongest in race history. CATS/Belgium returns with 2000 winner Bert Dewaele and 2001 Belgian Espoirs Champion Tom Boonen leading the way. Alderfer's Auction House/France is sending a squad similar to the one that emerged victorious in the first Univest Grand Prix in 1998. And then there's Yum Yum Bake Shops/Netherlands, an all-star lineup drawn from the top Dutch amateur teams. Add in top Canadian squads Atlas Cold Storage/Ital Pasta and Isotec/TTE, as well as Embassy International/Grange Insurance, an Australian squad that has been lighting it up all along the East Coast this season, and the 2001 Univest Grand Prix men's race looks to be a real battle royal.

And the Elite Women's event is shaping up to be every bit as exciting, as a record 26 teams are going to be competing in the 33-mile Women's circuit race. The top regional teams such as VeriZon Wireless (with 2000 U.S. National Criterium Champion Laura Van Gilder), Talgoamerica.com, Tri-State Velo/Amoroso's, and Wheelworks/Cannondale will pit themselves against such national powers as 800.com, Goldy's/Grove Street Place, Procter & Gamble, and Gatorade/Olbas, whose Dede Demet-Barry recently won the Saturn Cycling Classic. For the first time, there will also be several powerful foreign entries: Intersports (including former World Champion Catherine Marsal), and the Canadian Junior Worlds squad.